35 arrested in Manatee underage sex sting

Published: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 3:47 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 6:21 p.m.

MANATEE COUNTY - Sheriff's detectives have arrested 35 men who they say traveled to a home in Manatee believing they were meeting a child for a sexual encounter.

Dubbed "Operation Green Shepherd II," the sting started on March 18 and concluded at midnight Monday.

Detectives posed as children in online chat rooms and websites, waiting for contact from the suspects.

When the suspects arrived at the home, deputies were waiting and arrested the men after they knocked or rang the doorbell. Cameras were set up both inside and outside the house, capturing the arrests on video.

The defendants were arrested on charges including travel to seduce/solicit/entice a child to commit a sexual act, use of a computer to seduce/solicit/entice a child to commit sexual act and attempted lewd and lascivious. One man was also charged with giving alcohol to someone under the age of 21, while another man was charged with possession of marijuana.

The youngest man arrested was 19 years old, the oldest 62. The men came from Manatee County and surrounding counties.

The undercover operation brings to more than 100 the number of men arrested in the last six months in Manatee and Sarasota counties for reportedly soliciting sex from children.

Last month, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office conducted a similar undercover operation that led to 30 arrests — including on Valentine's Day.

That followed a September sweep in Manatee County, during the initial "Operation Green Shepherd," in which detectives arrested 43 people.

Experts say the stings highlight the widespread problem of adults trying to pay for sex with children online, and raise concerns as other law enforcement agencies run similar sweeps across the country.

The sheriff's office was assisted by The Department of Homeland Security; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; police departments in Bradenton, Sanford and St. Petersburg; and sheriff's offices in Sarasota, Polk, Lee, Seminole, Hardee counties.

EARLIER: Sheriff's detectives have arrested 35 men who traveled to a home in Manatee County believing they were meeting a child for a sexual encounter.

Dubbed “Operation Green Shepherd II” the sting started on Monday, March 18 and concluded at midnight, Monday. March 25.

Detectives posed as children in online chat rooms and websites, waiting for contact from the suspects.

When the suspects arrived at the home, deputies were waiting and arrested the men after they knocked or rang the doorbell, capturing the arrests on video.

The defendants were arrested on charges including Travel to Seduce/Solicit/Entice a Child to Commit Sexual Act, Use of a Computer to Seduce/Solicit/Entice a Child to Commit Sexual Act, and Attempted Lewd and Lascivious.

The sheriff's office was assisted by The Department of Homeland Security, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Bradenton, Sanford and St. Petersburg Police Departments and the Sarasota, Polk, Lee, Seminole, Hardee County Sheriff's Offices.

Check back at HeraldTribune.com for more information on this developing story.

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